Have you ever felt lost? It’s as if everyone around you is moving forward while you are just standing there. Not because you wanted to, but because you couldn’t figure out exactly what to do. I’ve been there too, feeling like I was sitting on the sidelines as a spectator as everybody else was immersed in the game of life, making their mark on the world. Every time I glanced around someone was finishing their book or starting their business or hosting an event and it all just made me feel small. More than making me feel small it made me feel guilty. Here I am with all of these dreams and talents and skills, yet I couldn't seem to harness them for any meaningful purpose simply because I lacked direction
Back in high school, I chose an amazing college to attend, believing it would shape my future. That glass ceiling would be shattered just as I walked across that stage to collect my diploma. But interestingly enough, after graduation, it appeared as if there were workers on the ceiling adding another layer of glass. I got sucked into a job that sucked. I wasn’t passionate about it. It’s just one of the few jobs I could get with just a bachelor’s degree, so I took it. Before long, I realized that a bachelor’s degree alone wouldn’t unlock my dreams, so I plunged further into debt for a master’s degree, hoping it would provide a sense of direction…a path…a plan. That path was short-lived as I quickly realized that I had overpaid for a piece of paper with fading ink, essentially useless in guiding my way.
We do a lot of things not to feel inferior. We find ourselves knee-deep in futile endeavors that barely scratch the surface of our true purpose, all in our quest for significance. Some even crave more than just significance; they desire fame. We live in a world where one viral post can make anyone a sensation, and we are deceived into believing that it matters. Unfortunately, this only inflates our ego and compromises our standards as we jockey for more attention. Personally, I’m not seeking fame; I’m in search of purpose.
That’s why it can be challenging to be gifted. Gifted individuals continually grapple with finding a suitable outlet for their talents, struggling to satisfy the nagging inner-voice that is making the constant demand for them to “DO SOMETHING!” We search for the thing that will finally give us a sense of accomplishment. It’s really a quest for significance because after all isn’t that what we all want? Don’t we all just want to be acknowledged for doing something great? I’ve struggled with feeling insufficiently adequate for most of my adult life.
It's the feeling when you know you possess everything you need to fulfill your purpose, a purpose that God temporarily placed you on this plant for. Yet, you recognize that most of the things you’ll attempt to do barely scratch the surface of your inner potential and only fuel your creative restlessness. So, you wait. You wait, convinced that your moment is just around the corner, and you don’t want to squander it on trivial projects that divert from “the thing.” Can I share a secret with you? Small steps lead to significant achievements. You won’t fully embrace the rewards of fulfilling your calling without completing numerous smaller callings along the way. So, go do something! Do it passionately. And as you accumulate a series of “somethings” in your journey, you’ll inevitably find yourself achieving THE THING you’ve been waiting for your entire life. And then finally, you’ll realize that your gifting was the most beautiful burden you’ll ever be privileged to carry.
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